eBird Sampling Effort Summaries ***** DRAFT *****

N.M. Tarr

22 February 2021

Purpose

This notebook summarizes eBird sampling (effort) within North Carolina for the past 5 years. Sampling data can be downloaded from the eBird website and queried with eBird’s R package named “auk”. The script named “filter_eBird_sampling.R”, which is saved in the NCBA github repo, performs the filtering that supports this notebook.

The records available from the sampling data set are for individual, unique checklists and several attributes are included for each. This notebook summarizes the available attribute values to learn as much as possible about the modern eBird effort to date within North Carolina. The available checklist attributes are:

checklist_id, last_edited_date, county, county_code, iba_code, bcr_code, usfws_code, atlas_block, locality, locality_id, locality_type, latitude, longitude, observation_date, time_observations_started, observer_id, sampling_event_identifier, protocol_type, protocol_code, project_code, duration_minutes, effort_distance_km, effort_area_ha, number_observers, all_species_reported, group_identifier, trip_comments

## Reading layer `ncba_blocks' from data source `/Users/nmtarr/Data/ncba_blocks.shp' using driver `ESRI Shapefile'
## Simple feature collection with 5841 features and 13 fields
## geometry type:  POLYGON
## dimension:      XY
## bbox:           xmin: 118473.7 ymin: 67.1174 xmax: 939395.5 ymax: 323717.8
## proj4string:    +proj=lcc +lat_1=34.33333333333334 +lat_2=36.16666666666666 +lat_0=33.75 +lon_0=-79 +x_0=609601.2192024384 +y_0=0 +ellps=GRS80 +units=m +no_defs

General

  • There are currently 474,094 checklists from North Carolina in eBird.

Week

Locality

  • Many checklists are revisits to previously surveyed locations. The ratio of locations that were visited once to the total number of checklists is 0.12.

  • Most locations have only been sampled once. However, some locations have been visited an enormous number of times.

Number of checklists per locality type
locality_type count
C 2
H 202465
P 269667
PC 420
T 1540

Most Visited Locations Table

Locations visited 100 or more times.
locality locality_id count
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary L166279 4278
Mid Pines Rd. L1263899 2460
40 Flack Valley Road L2579291 2397
Sandy Creek Park L971411 2365
Neighbarger-Colvin home L660029 2158
Lake Junaluska L248876 2106
Mason Farm Biological Reserve L331344 2087
Yates Mill County Park L486971 2066
Jackson Park L207852 1977
Lake Crabtree County Park L303621 1921
Bodie Island Lighthouse & Pond L365371 1914
Waves soundfront L3129074 1824
Severin Street L1941647 1773
Cornelius rental home L5653317 1656
My House L306395 1655
Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Wildlife Learning L579187 1466
Pea Island NWR–North Pond Wildlife Trail L1663502 1415
Pea Island NWR–North Pond L130800 1356
185 Knoll Rd. Southern pines, nc 28387 L3772996 1343
Howerton Rd. L4160235 1333
Historic Bethabara Park–Lower Trails L358727 1318
Beaver Marsh L855859 1314
Brumley Nature Preserve–North L7984234 1305
Neuse River Trail–Abbotts Creek L1597517 1291
Ecusta Pond (private) L1804745 1282
Lake Betz L1471163 1282
Lake Crabtree Nature Trail–Southport Entrance L2205740 1275
home L1957878 1267
Archie Elledge Treatment Plant (restricted access) L386755 1223
Hooper Lane L870227 1218
Baird Drive* L3183433 1212
Lake Julian Park L140554 1178
Lake Lynn L616540 1147
Lake Johnson Park L715946 1135
Nags Head–Jennette’s Pier L1398808 1124
Warren Wilson College–Owen Park L596716 1112
US-NC-Pittsboro-171Wintersage - 35.8052x-79.0838 L3969529 1076
Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge L282505 1068
Home/PNF S/E of Canton L3384627 1065
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center L477775 1052
pdoerr yard L2893381 1037
Leicester patch L1275966 1034
Schenck Forest L654314 1007
25 Jazaka Ridge Ln L2211144 974
Asheville School L7099538 966
Alligator River NWR L189480 955
Reynolda L387894 951
Briar Chapel–Pokeberry Creek L1598952 923
US-North Carolina-Clarkton-662 Baldwin Elkins Rd - 34.46x-78.633 L4582705 917
Olsen’s Yard L1891917 911
Asheville School L4842771 895
Salem Lake–Marina L4177866 895
Colonel Francis Beatty Park L1021786 893
Joe’s Backyard L5912931 887
*Home - 232 Buffalo Church Rd L6861428 884
Pea Island NWR–Salt Flats Wildlife Trail L1555375 882
Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area L600062 880
Pea Island NWR L190286 880
Biltmore Estate L786704 845
Old Bynum Bridge L1782391 835
Valle Crucis Community Park L424469 826
Duck Park Boardwalk L1743452 824
1085 Norris Road L2517761 808
Bike Lilly Rt. Quail Rd-Days Landing Rd, Merritt, NC, United States L2868758 799
Chuck Hollow Lane Wetland L3009743 792
Cane Creek Reservoir L614864 791
Loch Lomond, Lochmere, Cary L8085102 789
1605 Pineview L3645303 777
Mills River WTP L1804312 769
Home NC L6345856 763
Mallard Lakes L297582 759
Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve L130756 754
Pea Island NWR–South Pond L365394 743
Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment L998132 741
Backyard L1954974 737
yard Honey Pot Road, Gatesville, North Carolina, US (36.436, -76.708) L8303985 733
McAlpine Creek Park L594684 727
Wrightsville Beach–Masonboro Inlet L1054424 727
417 Cypress Dr, Reidsville US-NC (36.3287,-79.6715) L5951573 726
Historic Bethabara Park–God’s Acre & City Park L477250 722
North Carolina Botanical Garden L856588 719
Osceola Lake L208295 717
651 Quail Rd Merritt NC L2856538 703
Foxwood Drive (Beegle’s yard) L985062 703
My Backyard L6729139 687
Princess Place L1826310 683
“Paschal”“Pat”" W. Swann Water Treatment Plant (Outside Fence Only)" L2606625 681
Airlie Gardens L452423 679
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park–Trout Lake L523242 670
Latta Park L502669 661
Carolina Beach State Park L243650 660
Brevard Hike & Bike Path–Hospital Fields L860374 657
Rybczynski Home Cary US-NC (35.7532,-78.7722) L6771371 657
Pilot Mountain SP–Mountain L450683 629
Backyard- Fuquay L7806601 625
Chuckanut L6961143 617
Private Residence L1969457 591
Alligator River NWR–Milltail Rd. L2367181 580
Carolina North–Hanford Rd entrance L4595292 578
Clark’s Creek Nature Preserve L618356 570
Maple View Farm (Birding From Roads Only) L786002 560
Home L3180819 558
Lake Brandt–Horsepen Creek Mudflats L1257632 555
Back yard (private) L6458416 552
Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve L497070 548
NW Creek - Fairfield Harbour L8372616 544
Six Mile Creek Greenway L679395 543
Tanglewood Park L389553 542
Cape Hatteras NS–Salt Pond L557007 541
Emerald Isle yard, ponds & neighborhood L2811451 541
Jordan Lake SRA–Ebenezer Point L619883 541
Tucket L3370136 541
Home L840043 539
Wilson Educational Forest L2782215 529
Fort Fisher–Federal Point/The Rocks L792451 527
Lake Raleigh L876033 518
Greensboro Bog Garden L393482 516
Pea Island NWR–Old Coast Guard Station L210417 514
Fort Macon SP L387768 511
William B. Umstead SP–Big Lake L1334627 507
Carvers Creek SP–Long Valley Farm L1392990 503
Baity Hill at Mason Farm L9693675 498
Lake Wheeler marshes L998145 498
Highland Ave Durham L1093231 492
The Park at Flat Rock L4065540 492
Greenfield Lake L358125 491
Yard and Vicinity - Muirfield Dr, Fuquay Varina US-NC (35.6273,-78.7633) L7409700 488
Morning Walk L8934804 486
US-NC-Hurdle Mills-1434 McCullock Loop Rd L3229335 486
Ashe House Feeder and surrounding yard L717449 480
Mattamuskeet NWR L190061 480
Brookshire Park–Loop and Greenway L3000059 479
Gibson Park L451660 479
destination drive L5457674 467
Home L1944321 467
Lake Crabtree Dam L3442220 461
Tanglewood Park–Yadkin River Nature Trail L4177990 458
Lake Clermont Lot#42 L5444640 456
(35.0463,-76.6737) The Point L6167673 453
Pisgah NF–NC Arboretum L511992 450
Thousand Oaks Court, Clayton, North Carolina L6629514 450
Mackay Island NWR L302859 448
Aman Ct, Durham US-NC (35.8873,-78.9278) L8286580 446
Oregon Inlet South Rock Jetty L2573474 440
Baldwin Rd. (Guilford Co.) L2947309 439
Cedar Court L2631863 438
Fort Fisher SRA–Basin Trail and Aquarium Pond L241664 435
Pee Dee NWR L358792 433
Borland Road (1714) L2508836 432
Olsen’s Farm L1676714 432
Bethania–Black Walnut Bottom L1021141 427
Bent Tree/Straight/White Farm L6350941 424
Crabtree Creek Wetland–West of Raleigh Blvd. L3198221 418
Stonehaven - Bearmore L4241528 418
116 Hill Pl, Louisburg US-NC (36.0805,-78.3076) L8063281 415
Lake Brandt–Marina L818538 414
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park–Bass Lake L472179 414
Crockett’s Ridge L2595273 411
Rosewater Lane L7316791 409
My Yard L2230285 408
Salem Lake L385792 408
Miller Park L386545 403
Cedar Island Ferry Terminal L557019 402
Matheson Cove Area, Hayesville US-NC (35.0140,-83.8415) L5933326 402
Rockingham - Leaksville Neighborhood L879760 396
Greenville–River Park North L792246 395
Home - Catawba Heights Neighborhood L6960715 393
Mills River Park L2327984 390
Cary, NC Home L3303896 389
Shelley Lake L882613 388
Buddy Yard L5129935 384
Jordan Lake–B. Everett Jordan Dam L651593 384
Raleigh private residence L3367260 381
Bodie Island–Coquina Beach L365370 380
Muddy Creek Greenway–South of Robinhood Rd/Jamison Park L4198083 379
Carolina Beach Lake L358130 378
Bald Head Island L579820 374
171 Alder Branch Rd, Shiloh US-NC (36.2544,-76.0279) L6976087 373
Alligator River NWR–Wildlife Drive L365545 373
Falls Lake–Ellerbe Creek RR Grade L871971 370
Elkin and Alleghany Rail-Trail L2757662 369
Three Oaks L2682610 369
Wilders, 733 Southwick Avenue L3629915 368
Falls Lake–Rolling View L517564 366
Cape Hatteras NS–Cape Point L473168 365
Durant Nature Preserve L599979 364
Home in Sylva, NC L5065580 363
210 Gatchell Street, Black Mountain, North Carolina, US (35.61, -82.345) L8339234 362
RibbonWalk Nature Preserve L517005 361
Latta Plantation Nature Preserve L480399 360
Dan River Game Land–Riverside Circle L8000874 359
Burnt Mill Creek L1826302 355
Howell Woods Env. Learning Center L388455 352
Jean Guite Creek L3366229 351
Backyard L8442691 348
Ashton Hall L598905 347
Cape Hatteras NS–Cape Point Campground L1448233 347
Harris Lake County Park L387371 347
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Ridge Junction (Yancey Co.) L781868 346
Rankin Lake and Spillway L816731 345
Sandy Run Park L1474455 345
Caldwell Station Creek Greenway L6459131 344
17 Acre Woods L785746 343
Catawba College Ecological Preserve L581115 341
Civitan Park L387560 337
kings mill L2498240 335
The Tree House L9893334 334
My Yard L1294872 333
Home, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, US (35.132, -80.77) L6733229 330
Bond Park L911407 329
Rivermont Road L10511371 326
Sarah P. Duke Gardens L513490 325
Grubb Rd. L10339971 324
Sunset Beach–Twin Lakes L749576 323
Mebane Bridge Rd. L886226 322
#MarcoPolo L10707417 321
8475 Boykin Bridge Road, Clinton, North Carolina, US (34.91, -78.41) L6810538 319
Resch NC Yard L9850490 319
Fort Macon SP–Beach L1317521 318
*Flannery Fork Rd treetops L2377362 317
Taberna Lot #234 (private) L7162415 313
Falls Lake - Residence L7890924 312
Torain St, Hillsborough, NC L9921937 312
Back Yard L7068202 311
Mattamuskeet NWR–Lake Landing L4296865 311
Johnnie Mercer’s Pier L1050138 309
BHBP L5502120 308
Chantilly Ecological Sanctuary at Briar Creek L7909626 308
Pocosin Lakes NWR–Pungo Unit L974409 308
Harris Game Land–Upper Boat Ramp L998134 307
Bear Grass VOA Site L557151 304
McDowell Prairie L764042 304
Long Creek Park L7613296 303
322 CATHAY RD L3278355 302
Lake Junaluska L6954828 301
Biltmore Estate–The Lagoon L2145970 300
Flat Top Mountain L3393074 299
Pea Island NWR–Visitor Center Beach Crossover L1421531 297
28560 New Bern L3251 292
home L2668807 292
Alligator River NWR–River Rd. L1818977 289
Patterson Place Constructed Wetland L5079211 287
Alligator River NWR–Sawyer Lake Rd. L1931477 284
Eno River SP–Few’s Ford L871898 284
Cape Hatteras NS–Ramp 43-44 (Ponds & Beach) L2723507 281
Price Park–Highwoods Trail & Collection Pond L4906550 280
Colonial Drive Cul-de-sac L6928977 278
Lombardi yard L1952457 278
Morgan Creek Trail L1202875 278
Stanford Rd. L3666181 278
North River Farms (permission required) L1023805 277
Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary and Center L860027 277
Fort Fisher State Historic Site L792448 276
Riverbend Park L165194 276
Brian P’s Yard (Private) L12486427 275
Fort Macon SP–Visitor’s Center L5977434 274
Butner Game Land–Brickhouse Rd. (Durham Co.) L508336 273
Cane Creek Park L1649906 272
Northland Apartments yards and nearby wooded area with creek and vicinity, Greensboro, NC, USA L7529357 271
Boone Greenway–Created Wetland L3088296 269
Concord Mills Wetland L483059 269
Pilot Mountain SP–Bean Shoals Access L450685 269
Rockingham - Grogan Lake L1342947 266
Home L2732120 265
Cane River Park L2973572 264
Mallard Lakes L4382994 264
Morrow Mountain SP L515422 264
Belews Lake–Carolina Marina L1346025 262
*Moses Cone Memorial Park–Trout Lake L6445575 261
Julian Price Memorial Park–Price Lake L1048254 261
Mount Mitchell SP L613248 261
Lake Townsend–Doggett Rd. Causeway (East) L2695059 258
Hatteras Pelagic–Nearshore Waters L2182016 257
UNC Chapel Hill–Coker Arboretum L714664 257
Farris Memorial Park L3206106 255
Haw River Chapel Hill, North Carolina, US (35.87-79.24) L10115375 255
Home L5406741 255
Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary L1028580 255
Erwin Middle School L6993546 253
210 Gatchell Street, Black Mountain, North Carolina, US (35.61, -82.345) L10838632 252
Lake Townsend–Plainfield Marsh L1347251 249
Fort Fisher–Ocean Overlook/Coquina Outcropping/Gazebo L842062 248
The Glades L5522872 248
Dumont Drive - Bothwell Home L4015707 245
Duke University–Reclamation Pond L4754196 244
Fletcher Community Park L898752 244
Pee Dee NWR–Wildlife Dr. L1788657 244
Sweet Grove Ct - Yard L3005967 244
211 Wilson Ave, Swannanoa US-NC (35.6070,-82.3908) L7573856 243
Four Mile Creek Greenway, Charlotte L2425288 243
home L8018460 243
Reedy Creek Nature Preserve L594688 243
Lake Benson L683804 242
Lake Lure L499843 242
East Indian Beach L2641936 241
Hatteras Pelagic–Gulf Stream L548893 241
Lake Brandt–Palmetto Trail L4552623 241
Richardson-Taylor Preserve L2473199 241
Currituck Heritage Park L449788 240
Lake Townsend–Doggett Rd. Bridge (West) L2468147 240
Yadkin River Greenway–Happy Valley L1522489 240
Hoffman Road Drowning Creek to SCS L5820427 238
*Cutler yard L2654455 236
Botanical Gardens at Asheville L1012209 236
Rainbow Soccer Complex L1848608 236
Bass Lake Park & Trail L1352674 235
914 Colonial Drive, Burlington, North Carolina, US (36.085, -79.486) L9510478 233
Boone Greenway Trail L2981184 233
Home2 L11070539 233
25200 North Turnpike Road, Wagram, North Carolina, US (34.892, -79.445) L6826944 232
Jordan Lake–Educational State Forest L1164173 232
Price Park L1836675 231
Blue Jay Point County Park L1459398 230
Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway L596014 230
Waves–Sea Vista Dr. Pond L3374944 230
Cape Hatteras NS–Lighthouse Rd. Pond L2601163 229
Lake Townsend–Marina L2412543 229
Waves Oceanside Pond L3160232 229
Cedar Island NWR–Causeway L1836931 228
221 Prescott Drive, Durham, North Carolina, US L11281388 227
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Lewis Fork Overlook L1158095 227
Grandfather Mountain–Swinging Bridge L440334 227
Hanging Rock SP L280762 227
North Carolina Museum of Art–Sculpture Garden L2880549 227
Croatan NF–Patsy Pond Nature Trail L741082 226
Anderson Creek Park L2177464 225
Brumley Nature Preserve–South L7984243 224
Cape Hatteras L130081 224
Fred Fletcher Park L1060828 223
Mayo River SP–Tyne Rd. Tract L1571404 223
White Oak Creek Greenway–West Side L1192238 223
Historic Bethabara Park–Wetlands L358733 221
Home: Brian & Sheree’ L1849830 219
Kristen Court, Clayton, North Carolina, US (35.566, -78.547) L6650854 219
2653 Huntsman Trail, Zebulon, North Carolina, US (35.848, -78.275) L9128048 218
H1-Chanteloup Dr, Flat Rock, NC US L5918991 218
USA-NC-00975, 1/12, BHNU, 35.9184x-79.1356, 1012 King Cir L3880740 218
ViolaCT L9682406 218
E. Carroll Joyner Park L1057149 217
Salem Lake–Linville Rd. L4177880 217
Goose Creek SP L835859 216
Merchants Millpond SP L417829 216
Haw River SP–Iron Ore Belt Access L2202612 214
Horton Grove Nature Preserve L1884895 214
Oak Island L1174403 214
New River Inlet L805361 211
Hamilton Lakes Park L2144446 210
Behind Renaissance Center L693163 209
Bogue Inlet L1050808 209
Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve L1341989 209
Johnston Mill Nature Preserve L930938 209
Pisgah NF–Pink Beds L721651 209
Concord Mills Mall Pond L618362 208
Currituck Banks National Estuarine Research Reserve L674445 208
Lakepark L11242645 208
Sunset Beach–East End L2294559 208
Bodie Island National Park L161359 207
Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area L902772 207
US-NC-Raleigh-2123 Hollowgate Rd - 35.9190x-78.5750 L4278919 207
White Pines Nature Preserve L998198 207
Ashley High School pond L3151007 206
stakeout Varied Thrush, Cary (2020) L12875043 206
Chimney Rock SP L522709 205
Great Smoky Mountains NP–Clingmans Dome (North Carolina) L741761 205
Lamont Ct, Chapel Hill, NC L3129505 204
US-North Carolina-Bakersville-311 Greenberry Road - 35.962x-82.119 L5193675 204
Wilkerson Nature Preserve Park L2607737 204
Pea Island NWR–New Inlet L3001062 203
Symphony Lake Greenway L3524325 203
Warren Wilson College–Farm Fields L3167806 203
Rural Hill Farm L519660 202
Home L11829394 201
Bolin Creek–Community Park to MLK Blvd. L517191 200
frog pond place L3218438 200
Home L3976604 200
Jordan Game Land–Transis Camp Rd. L1164172 200
May Apple Road L3937020 200
Fort Fisher SRA L337931 197
Home–Canton, NC L3985118 197
Home, Asheville US-NC (35.5744,-82.6002) L6929855 197
Lake Junaluska–Boat Ramp L3789888 197
Pembroke Creek Park L5806681 197
American Tobacco Trail–New Hill-Olive Chapel Road Access L1475968 196
Beasley Rd. Pond Area L2498029 194
NC Backyard L4402778 194
North Wake Landfill Park (formerly North Wake Sanitary Landfill) L3311880 193
Private Lloyd Leahy Home 2706 Sumac Ln, Burlington US-NC (36.0727,-79.4758) L7168637 193
Spruce Pine Lane, Pisgah Forest NC L9436494 193
Winslow Bay Park L6084977 193
Cru - Raleigh Office L8394420 191
Jordan Lake–New Hope Creek arm (Chatham Co) L453528 191
Microfarm L8694837 191
Buckhorn Reservoir L1035233 190
Jordan Lake–Crosswinds Marina L614775 189
Little Tennessee River Greenway L1023934 189
Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve L579849 188
Home L2089605 188
Swift Creek Bluffs L813435 188
James Boyce Park L778822 187
Lake Hills Pond & Marsh L477350 186
Martin Street house L1765449 185
Ben Wilson Rd, Mebane, NC L3672361 184
Martin Marietta Park (Former Quarry) L3112989 184
Pritchard Park Nature Trail L6697619 184
Raleigh - Brentwood L11016417 184
48 Destination Drive, Asheville, North Carolina, US (35.61, -82.612) L8115378 183
Hank Anderson Community Park L2580738 183
Inwood Rd. L1023995 183
Cape Hatteras NS–Old Lighthouse L365399 182
Ferris Drive L878778 182
Lake Tomahawk L612338 182
Taberna HOA park at Brice’s Creek (residents only) L7174418 182
NC-ISS-Plot 49 L1970649 181
Palmetto Peartree Preserve L1194645 181
Biltmore Estate–Deer Park River Trail L2145986 180
Atlantic Beach Pier L1068007 179
Ritter Park L998188 179
Wilson Road/Turf Grass Field L4949683 179
313 Susanna Drive L469030 178
Holly Shelter Game Land–Lodge Rd. Central L718180 178
Home Raleigh, North Carolina, US (35.802, -78.751) L8575815 178
Rosman Community Park L3030237 178
Bakers Creek/Winterberry L2981525 177
Randolph Middle School L1028569 177
Riverbend Park–Bean Tract L5223507 177
Walsh Blvd & Johnston Rd L4244817 177
Forest Court, Carrboro L7693281 176
Jones Ferry Road L8639146 176
Leitner Drive/Holiday Inn Express Wetlands L3558925 176
Forest Hills Dr L2228806 174
Mattamuskeet NWR–Headquarters Rd L1419876 174
Chatham Hill Road, Winston-Salem, NC (Restricted) L4480647 172
Grandfather Mountain–Nature Museum L2313702 172
Oregon Inlet L1404072 172
Our Yard L1049356 172
Historic Bethabara Park–Mill Creek L1497932 171
Muddy Creek Greenway L434074 171
4120 The Oaks Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina, US (35.765, -78.711) L10568935 170
Macedonia Lake/Speight Branch Greenway L2330326 170
Pea Island NWR–Old Ferry Landing L988995 170
US-NC-Chapel Hill-1215 Jones Ferry Rd - 35.8995x-79.1090 L5136574 170
Mayo River SP–Deshazo Rd. Tract L1335810 169
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Balsam Gap L997449 168
Hardison Lee Farm Rd. L4315334 168
Jordan Game Land–Audubon Platform L988146 168
Yard L2511523 168
Arnold Drive L10989653 167
Guilford County–Manson Rd L3103028 167
Horizons Park L1072309 167
Lake Townsend–Yanceyville Rd. Marsh L1359217 167
Ezell Farm Community Park L7287378 166
Lake Townsend–Yanceyville Rd. Bridge L2412558 166
Forest Lane Drive (Private) L4807987 165
Green Swamp Preserve L506738 165
Rodanthe Public Boat Ramp L3343973 165
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary L2308617 164
Dupont SF L1248659 164
Lake Norman (Mecklenburg Co.) L503273 164
Alligator River NWR–Buffalo City Rd. L662525 163
East Camden. Fearrington Village L1958210 163
171 Alder Branch Rd, Shiloh US-NC (36.2544,-76.0278) L10133139 162
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Bald Knob Ridge Trail L808055 162
Brancer Drive, Mars Hill, North Carolina, US (35.823, -82.515) L6833799 162
Copperhead Island L1065690 162
Lake Wilson L1756136 162
Residence L3118046 162
University Lake, Chapel Hill L998192 162
US-NC-Pittsboro-171Wintersage L2961054 162
2529 Meridian Parkway, Durham, North Carolina, US (35.908, -78.9) L10396738 161
8 Laurel Ridge L4137670 161
J. Morgan Futch Game Land L733134 161
Pea Island NWR–Salt Flats L792647 161
Cape Hatteras NS–Old Cape Point beach road/walkway L3573473 160
Moss Creek Nature Trail L465110 160
New Bern Battlefield Park L7142465 160
Research Pkwy. L2584560 160
Schlesinger/Dellwo place L3227786 160
Haw River SP–The Summit L470686 159
US-NC-Charlotte-714 Rama Rd - 35.1636x-80.7753 L4696340 157
My Backyard L986922 156
Yard-Hatterleigh Ave., Hillsborough L11010334 156
Arbor Acres L2165259 155
stakeout Golden-crowned Sparrow, Harbinger (2018) L8302250 155
1-HOME Willow Run Dr, Charlotte US-NC (35.0768,-80.8307) L7389019 154
1313 N. Stage Coach Trail (back porch) L169752 154
Lawson Creek Park L1356910 154
Sandhills Game Land: Georges (Oran) Drop Zone L5753070 154
Snowbird Mountain Lodge L2811853 154
Cape Hatteras NS–Salvo Day Use Area L3296812 153
Oak Island–West End L3033063 153
Rockingham - Ledbetter Road Goose Pond L2069294 153
Rockingham - Parking Lot L894104 153
Shattalon Lake L819679 153
W. Kerr Scott Reservoir–Dam L358674 153
681 Lichfield Rd L6860453 152
Saxapahaw River Loop Trail L2140885 152
US-NC-Carrboro-112 Rock Spring Court. 35.9283x-79.0838 L3738559 152
US-North Carolina-Sealevel-174 Bayshore St - 34.879x-76.392 L4606367 152
West Branch Nature Preserve L1537460 152
House L10393140 151
Jockey’s Ridge State Park L302797 151
Quarry Park L6194728 151
Aragorn Lane L5484547 150
Coweeta Hydrologic Lab L467407 150
Neuse River Trail–Mial Plantation Road L5692620 150
New River SP–US221 Access L445536 150
Coastal Studies Institute L4109273 149
Ocean Isle Beach L784728 149
Southport Water Overlook L935876 149
Lower Booker Creek Trail L2070528 148
Eno River SP–Cole Mill/Pump Station L499740 147
Vince’s Home Maggie Valley NC 3000 Feet L4181882 147
510 Idlewood Dr, Salisbury US-NC 35.70077, -80.47599 L12756438 146
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden/Seven Oaks Preserve Trail L1222178 146
7634 Gresham Hills Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina, US (35.886, -78.588) L6272266 145
Brookhaven Nature Park L4385674 145
3909 Perney Court, Apex, North Carolina, US (35.685, -78.801) L8261758 144
Croatan NF–Cedar Point Tideland Trail L579948 144
Sam’s Backyard L1900694 144
Straight Rd. between Bent Tree and Orchard Creek L4505750 144
4171 Aurora Rd L5865754 143
Bethel Middle School L3999782 143
Great Smoky Mountains NP–Oconaluftee L710760 143
Jordan Game Land–Farrington Point Boating Access L691811 143
Roanoke Island–North End L989018 143
Stoney Creek NorthGreenway L6627026 143
429 Kenwood Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina, US (34.765, -77.532) L11574498 142
Brier Creek Reservoir L998118 142
New River SP–Wagoner Access/Bill Bledsoe Rd. L474821 142
William B. Umstead SP L279127 142
Caldwell Station neighborhood L5850966 140
Discovery Lake (Restricted Access) L1989865 140
Jackey’s Creek Estates L511290 140
Pettigrew State Park L189725 140
The Wright House L6153401 140
hs walmart pond L6560825 139
Lake Powhatan L1287709 139
Walker’s Ferry Rd. Cove L1518074 139
Croatan NF–Millis Rd. Savanna L738052 138
Raven Rock SP L357287 138
Vilas Linville Creek Overlook (private) L4752765 138
Chestnut Lake Subdivision L8134883 137
Max Patch Rd. L523302 137
Oak Hollow Lake North Overlook L3864860 137
Pilot Mountain SP–Pilot Creek Access L4529967 137
Falls Lake–Hickory Hill Boat Ramp L619863 136
Jensen street L3017337 136
NC house L2151474 136
Pisgah NF–Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education L1248691 136
Chinqua Penn Walking Trail L892405 135
Concord United Methodist Church Fields L2022192 135
Fort Fisher–Aquarium Trail L971418 135
Hoke Community Forest (East Side) L10019253 135
Julian Price Memorial Park L770359 135
Pisgah NF–Black Balsam Knob L1663032 135
100 Vireo Lane L5648320 134
Dairyland Road–Anilorac Farm L998121 134
East Shackleford Banks L674614 134
Lost Cove L5472080 134
3614 Carpenter Pond Rd. L5447894 133
E. B. Jeffress Park L1157162 133
Elk Knob SP L902789 133
Kapp Road L522473 133
My House L2372518 133
Susan A’s House L4071282 133
yard L12016401 133
back yard Ramey Dr L3970842 132
Fort Fisher–Ferry Parking and Trail L792459 132
Pocosin Lakes NWR–Columbia L986373 131
Redbud - 80 Pyrus - US-NC-Pittsboro - 35.7553x-79.1215 L3917507 131
Echo Valley Farm L520450 130
Turkey Ridge-Plauche House L3016562 130
US-NC-Rosman-253 Turkey Track Rd L2971507 130
WNC Nature Center L1908749 130
Blossom Creek, Garner US-NC L8598978 129
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Tanbark Ridge Tunnel (North End) L3580407 129
CR stormwater pond L3581847 129
Cummings Court, Foxfire Village L2175268 129
Hillsborough Riverwalk L3865072 129
Whitehall Plantation Game Land–Long Ridge Tract L8596506 129
Charlotte Douglas International Airport–Overlook Park L849409 128
US-NC-Charlotte-backyard L1956610 128
118 East South Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, US (35.771, -78.638) L8496855 127
3400 Tranquil Hills Dr, Lenoir US-NC (35.9785,-81.5570) L7009402 127
Blackwood Farm Park L3863745 127
Deblyn Park/Brookhaven, Raleigh US-NC (35.8572,-78.6982) L9874661 127
Westbrook, Boone L522984 127
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Beacon Heights L1278876 126
Home L7773678 126
South Topsail Beach L528908 126
The Belk yard L5622009 126
Chadwyck Farms L4990647 125
Lower Haw SNA–Bynum L234178 125
NC, Mecklenburg Co. - Huntersville (12025 Regal Lily Ln.) L595925 125
Pisgah NF–Black Balsam Knob Rd. L3666388 125
Poplar Lane L3934396 125
Yadkin Memorial Park L3183410 125
McFayden Lake neighborhood - restricted access L6584972 124
Overhills Creek L3284940 124
stakeout Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Winston-Salem (2015-2016) L3922775 124
3211 Arthur Ct, Raleigh US-NC (35.7987,-78.6806) L10039807 123
Davis Lake High Point, NC L3202764 123
Home(≈2mi r) L7714198 123
Jordan Lake SRA–Seaforth L781676 123
Lake Twitty L1403498 123
Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve L998165 123
Piedmont Environmental Center South Preserve L805113 123
Sage Court L3404309 123
305 Country Club Cr, Brevard NC L3523014 122
432 Summit Ave. Statesville NC L1505178 122
Brandon Oaks Nature Path L2686596 122
Eagle Spur Rail Trail–Stagecoach Rd. L2166330 122
Fort Fisher SRA–Spit (New Hanover Co.) L1642999 122
Southern Shores Beach L4452971 122
USS North Carolina Memorial L487086 122
206 garden pond road L10464932 121
Cape Hatteras NS–Buxton Woods Trail L365397 121
Oak Island–Davis Canal L3606230 121
Pearl Hall L7238154 121
Pisgah NF–Mt. Pisgah Campground L960076 121
Roanoke Island Marsh Game Land L450423 121
Rodanthe Pier L3318688 121
312 North 15th St. L3392506 120
8002 Alma Blvd, Waxhaw US-NC (34.9376,-80.7544) L7982831 120
Apex Community Park L496866 120
Carolina North–Tripp Farm Gate L3906927 120
Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry L862669 120
Lower Haw SNA–Hwy. 64 L713786 120
Meadow Lane L509249 120
Sandy Mush Game Land–Bear Creek Access L2931853 120
Backyard L1528486 119
kayaking Ball, Pasture and Cabin Creek L2348546 119
Pisgah NF–Bent Creek L925410 119
Pisgah NF–Davidson River Campground L3932246 119
Ray’s Mill Park L3031797 119
100 Stratford Lakes Drive, Durham, North Carolina, US (35.944, -78.911) L7893397 118
North Carolina Estuarium L874505 118
Baileywick Road Park L1478917 117
High Rock Dam L633377 117
Lake Norman–Energy Explorium viewing area L1363696 117
Mattamuskeet NWR–Wildlife Drive West L1419888 117
Pea Island NWR–New Field Pond L557170 117
The Yard L2453943 117
Apexhome L2652621 116
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Heffner Gap L781785 116
Chambers Ridge Apartments L3313534 116
Lookout Shoals Lake–Sharon Access L1233931 116
Mt. Pisgah Inn L557006 116
White Deer Park L8175869 116
983 Hardison Lee Farm Rd, Arapahoe NC L4314774 115
Falls Lake–Beaverdam Reservoir L599112 115
N Rugby Road Wetlands L7735928 115
NC-ISS-8 L2919587 115
Peace Haven Rd L4190023 115
Sandy Mush Game Land L469499 115
314 Grand Oak Drive Hillsborough, NC L1963230 114
Green River Game Land–Green River Cove Rd. L2834796 114
Halyburton Park L1009313 114
Minglewood Trail-Summerfield L4555576 114
Tanglewood Park–Mallard Lake & Walnut Grove L4177891 114
UNCW (general area) L9807903 114
Hatteras Landing Marina L1192916 113
Middle Dr. L11631636 113
Neuse River Trail–Anderson Point Park L599964 113
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Craven Gap L745958 112
DO NOT USE–Historical Only for Brumley Nature Preserve L3717877 112
Inn on Mill Creek L939344 112
Rodanthe Public Beach L5127171 112
Sedgefield Park L1762713 112
106 Muirfield Ridge Drive, Garner, North Carolina, US (35.719, -78.609) L6234954 111
Crabtree Creek Watershed L1431612 111
Mattamuskeet NWR–Causeway L365516 111
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Linville Falls L613247 110
Deerfield Greenway L1271330 110
Fairfield Neighborhood L7069537 110
Farm Gate L368388 110
Ocean Isle–East End L4838245 110
Aberdeen Lake Park L3837440 109
Alligator River NWR–Sandy Ridge trail L697961 109
Cape Lookout NS–Core Sound Waterfowl Museum Trails L1287038 109
Dismal Swamp SP L421615 109
Katelyn Moors–Charlotte NC L384636 109
Backyard L9238042 108
ILM Observation Area L3275272 108
Jackson Park, 4th Avenue East, Hendersonville, North Carolina, US (35.318, -82.45) L6562516 108
McAlpine Wastewater Treatment Ponds (restricted access) L581886 108
Outer Banks Arboretum L865336 108
Roanoke Island–Fort Raleigh NHS L365555 108
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Graveyard Fields L1569072 107
Highlands Biological Station L905132 107
Onteora Blvd L9922945 107
Turnipseed Preserve L5052420 107
Wrightsville Beach L357297 107
2-90 Wisteria Drive, Marion, North Carolina, US (35.696, -82.004) L7444064 106
8704 Green Cliff Ct., Raleigh NC L4132198 106
Isaac Dickson Elementary L5037689 106
Nick’s Creek Greenway L473659 106
US-North Carolina-Clinton-8475 Boykin Bridge Road - 34.91x-78.41 L5826617 106
Cape Hatteras NS–West Beach (Ramps 44-45) L2438368 105
Carters Grove Rd. L749199 105
Dan River Game Land–Woodpecker Rd. L8000876 105
Gerton L3823661 105
Highland Lake area L6828909 105
Kinston Nature Center (Neuseway Nature Park) L3480022 105
US-NC-Chapel Hill-108 Green Willow Ct - 35.9550x-79.0172 L4478117 105
WPD L1476569 105
yard L8315523 105
Belews Lake (Rockingham Co.) L1048819 104
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Devil’s Courthouse L304320 104
Eno River Association–Confluence Property L1211684 104
Lake Wheeler L420806 104
Mayo River SP L1522247 104
Pearson Drive L3933258 104
San-Lee Park L1181970 104
US-NC-Concord-5893-6005 Monticello Dr NW L3934317 104
Blue Ridge Pkwy–Waterrock Knob L784636 103
Evergreen Nature Preserve L168301 103
US-NC-Stallings-249 Limerick Dr - 35.1237x-80.6475 L3973059 103
744 Cannon Trail, Franklin, NC, Cartoogechaye area L4592040 102
Cumberland County Park L357285 102
Duke University–Wetland Center ‘SWAMP’ L718272 102
yard on Kingfisher L5235654 102
Amick Rd. L10407006 101
Camp Creek L2864116 101
Coastal Community Market L4436983 101
NCSU Dairy Pond L1968494 101
UNC Charlotte L886000 101
Coddle Creek Reservoir–North End L480402 100
Mount Mitchell SP–Commissary Trail L3043635 100
NorthEast Davie County L1385878 100
Pettigrew SP–Cypress Point L1211082 100
Pisgah NF–Rhododendron Gardens & Cloudland Trail L934678 100
Sunset Beach L469291 100

Spatial Distribution

Checklists per County

Between 141 and 58,712 checklists are available for counties in North Carolina, and the median number of checklists is 1,669.

Top 10 Counties

Top 10 Counties
county count
Wake 58712
Dare 35310
Buncombe 31594
Mecklenburg 30389
Orange 25108
Durham 23940
Forsyth 20047
Guilford 16071
New Hanover 13305
Henderson 12187

Bottom 10 Counties

Bottom 10
county count
Perquimans 141
Greene 212
Duplin 251
Bertie 309
Northampton 317
Pasquotank 332
Jones 378
Columbus 408
Martin 410
Warren 466

Checklists per County Table

Note, the assignment of checklists to counties was performed by eBird and it is possible that errors exist due to traveling counts that cross county lines and errors in the recorded locations of checklists.

county count
Alamance 5358
Alexander 561
Alleghany 1018
Anson 960
Ashe 2499
Avery 3040
Beaufort 2380
Bertie 309
Bladen 1695
Brunswick 9384
Buncombe 31594
Burke 1484
Cabarrus 4914
Caldwell 1457
Camden 1297
Carteret 11074
Caswell 614
Catawba 1920
Chatham 11117
Cherokee 634
Chowan 599
Clay 830
Cleveland 2254
Columbus 408
Craven 5644
Cumberland 2586
Currituck 3589
Dare 35310
Davidson 1423
Davie 774
Duplin 251
Durham 23940
Edgecombe 747
Forsyth 20047
Franklin 1667
Gaston 3011
Gates 1269
Graham 922
Granville 1034
Greene 212
Guilford 16071
Halifax 685
Harnett 1337
Haywood 9590
Henderson 12187
Hertford 806
Hoke 950
Hyde 3457
Iredell 2213
Jackson 2991
Johnston 4312
Jones 378
Lee 627
Lenoir 485
Lincoln 555
Macon 2528
Madison 1563
Martin 410
McDowell 1921
Mecklenburg 30389
Mitchell 1219
Montgomery 514
Moore 5249
Nash 959
New Hanover 13305
Northampton 317
Onslow 2774
Orange 25108
Pamlico 4886
Pasquotank 332
Pender 2784
Perquimans 141
Person 2239
Pitt 2788
Polk 1671
Randolph 1005
Richmond 541
Robeson 679
Rockingham 6958
Rowan 2744
Rutherford 1124
Sampson 975
Scotland 786
Stanly 1345
Stokes 1844
Surry 2407
Swain 1720
Transylvania 8107
Tyrrell 923
Union 5426
Vance 488
Wake 58712
Warren 466
Washington 1786
Watauga 9255
Wayne 789
Wilkes 1962
Wilson 1531
Yadkin 547
Yancey 4407

Checklists per Atlas Block

Although coordinates are provided by eBird for checklists, they do not provide precise locations of eBirder effort for two reasons. First, there are limits to the spatial precision of the points due to gps precision and/or observers ability to identify exactly where they birded on a map or in the app. Second, many birders travel while birding but their paths are not available, only the distances they traveled.

Locational uncertainty is important because if it is large in relation to the level of analysis, it creates uncertainty about which spatial subregions, such as counties or atlas blocks, a checklist should be attributed to. One approach is to assign each checklist to the subregion that the checklist coordinate is located within. That approach could generate deceptive results if checklists represent birding effort from multiple blocks but are assigned to a single block or if the coordinate is located in a block adjacent to where the birding actually occurred. I present results from this approach below for reference and coarse data summary and refer to it as “coordinate count”.

Another approach is to use checklist polygons instead of the coordinates (points) in order to include the locational uncertainty in the summary. Under this approach, coordinates are buffered with the distance traveled by the observer during the checklist period. Each checklist is then assigned to all of the blocks that the polygon intersects in order to acknowledge that the checklist could represent effort from multiple blocks. Results from this approach can logically be expected to exaggerate the true footprint of birding effort and suggest blocks were sampled that actually were not. The results are forthcoming.

##    Min. 1st Qu.  Median    Mean 3rd Qu.    Max. 
##     0.0     1.0     5.0    81.1    29.0  6071.0
Blocks with checklist coordinate counts in the top 20
BLOCK_NAME count
LAKE WHEELER-NW 6071
SOUTHWEST DURHAM-NW 5825
WEAVERVILLE-SE 5551
CHAPEL HILL-SE 5048
CHAPEL HILL-CW 4048
RURAL HALL-SE 3920
NORTHWEST DURHAM-SE 3733
CARY-NE 3597
HENDERSONVILLE-CW 3595
OUTER PEA ISLAND OE W-NW 3488
ASHEVILLE-CW 3330
RALEIGH WEST-CW 3260
SKYLAND-SE 3172
RALEIGH WEST-SW 3017
SOUTHWEST DURHAM-SW 2998
CLYDE-SW 2986
CHAPEL HILL-CE 2952
FARRINGTON-CW 2944
OTEEN-NE 2810
OUTER RODANTHE OE W-CW 2744

Observers

All observers

Most eBirders have only submitted a handful of checklists. The median number of checklists submitted is only 2, and observers who have submitted more than 6 are in the top quartile for number of submissions.

Core observers

It is informative to look more closely at a subset of active observers in order to better characterize observers who may participate in the atlas. Here, I exclude the extreme outliers and people with fewer than some arbitrarily “small” number of submissions (20).

Protocol

Protocol Type Checklists (n)
Area 441
Banding 26
CWC Area Search 1
eBird Pelagic Protocol 118
Historical 2664
Incidental 2101
International Shorebird Survey (ISS) 361
Nocturnal Flight Call Count 35
Random 338
Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz 75
Stationary 207139
Trail Tracker 3
Traveling 260791
Tricolored Blackbird Winter Survey 1

Project

Project Checklists (n)
EBIRD 455684
EBIRD_AK 58
EBIRD_ATL_MD_DC 88
EBIRD_ATL_ME 5
EBIRD_ATL_NY 96
EBIRD_ATL_NZ 2
EBIRD_ATL_VA 221
EBIRD_ATL_WI 42
EBIRD_AU 35
EBIRD_BCN 124
EBIRD_BRA 4
EBIRD_CAMERICA 173
EBIRD_CAN 258
EBIRD_CB 41
EBIRD_CBW 1
EBIRD_CL 11
EBIRD_GBBC 15480
EBIRD_IND 16
EBIRD_KIOSK 8
EBIRD_MA 87
EBIRD_ME 299
EBIRD_MEX 39
EBIRD_MO 3
EBIRD_MYS 8
EBIRD_NH 17
EBIRD_NJ 122
EBIRD_NZ 2
EBIRD_PA 53
EBIRD_PNW 101
EBIRD_PR 3
EBIRD_QC 166
EBIRD_TWN 11
EBIRD_TX 77
EBIRD_VA 655
EBIRD_VINS 28
EBIRD_WI 76

Start Time

Duration

  • The durations of most checklists are less than one day (1,440 minutes), but 25 checklists carried on longer than a day and 552 checklists lasted between 12 and 24 hours.
  • I omitted checklists longer than 12 hours for the summaries in this section.

##    Min. 1st Qu.  Median    Mean 3rd Qu.    Max. 
##    1.00   19.00   45.00   67.66   90.00  720.00

Distance

##    Min. 1st Qu.  Median    Mean 3rd Qu.    Max. 
##   0.000   0.805   1.609   1.798   2.575   5.999

##    Min. 1st Qu.  Median    Mean 3rd Qu.    Max. 
##   5.001   6.437   8.047  12.406  13.156  80.467

Runtime

4.502642 mins